Publisher's Description

Everyone who believes Easter is about more than bunnies and eggs will be grateful for this new collection of short stories that shed light on the deeper meaning of the season. Selected for their spiritual value and literary quality, these classic tales capture the spirit of Easter in a way that will captivate readers of all ages. Parents and grandparents will find that children love to hear these stories read aloud, year after year. Easter Stories includes time-honored favorites from world-famous storytellers such as C.S. Lewis, Leo Tolstoy, Selma Lagerlof, Oscar Wilde, Elizabeth Goudge, Maxim Gorky, Ruth Sawyer, and Walter Wangerin as well as many you ve never heard before. Illustrated with original woodcuts."

Seriously, the first thing that impressed me about this book was the quality of the binding, even before I started reading. The craftsmanship that went into this book is just another bonus to an already superb literary work.

This collection of stories from the masters is a thought-provoking, challenging, and uplifting adventure in prose and poetry, all with one aim in mind: to lift Him up!

Theyve succeeded.

This is a short review, because to cover every contribution to this anthology would make for a rather lengthy one. Which would keep you from diving in and relishing the offerings from some of the worlds finest literary minds.

So please, dont let me stop you. Get in there! The crown jewels have nothing on this book!

Easter is fast approaching. Much like Christmas, many people have forgotten the true meaning of the day. It has become a day of bunnies and chocolates. I want my children to remember that on Easter Sunday, we are celebrating the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Easter Stories Classic Tales for the Holy Season is a collection of stories from authors throughout the ages. I immediately recognized several of the like CS Lewis and Leo Tolstoy, while there were many authors that I didnt know.

The back of the book suggests that children will love to hear these stories over and over again, I personally feel that many of the stories werent suitable for younger children. My daughter who is five and very sensitive, would find many of the stories upsetting. The story of Marys Child by the Brothers Grimm is a traditional fairy tale and not full of the warm fuzzies of todays children stories.

While I didnt immediately connect with this book, I cannot dispute the quality of work found within its pages. I am used to reading more contemporary novels and found the style of writing very old world. The images are unique woodcuts created by Lisa Toth. They bring a dark feeling to some already heavy stories.

Each story in Easter Stories Classic Tales for the Holy Season was selected for its spiritual value and carries a strong christian message. Sometimes these messages are very clear and in the forefront of the story while the message in others are more subtle and will require a little more thought. Adults will find that these stories will help you reflect on your faith as you prepare for the Easter season.

I received a copy of this book for free for the purpose of this review.

Some exceptional stories that help bring about the true message of Easter!

March 20, 2015

Heart2Heart

Victorville, CA

Age: 45-54

Gender: female

Quality:4

Value:4

Meets Expectations:4

Sometimes the best books are ones that contained a bunch of short stories geared for specific holidays. When I was asked to review Easter Stories: Classic Tales for the Holy Season, by various authors I knew this would be something that would help get me in the mood for Easter. I had read a similar book from Plough Publishing House during Christmas and hoped this would be along the same lines.

While there are some notable authors like C.S. Lewis, Leo Tolstoy, Oscar Wilde, Elizabeth Goudge, and many others, that were selected for their spiritual value and literary quality. While most of them do meet those standards there were a couple that I would not be able to read to a young child based on the language used to describe why a donkey has long ears. It would be one I would have to pass on sharing with my children or simply remove that part of the story that tells why a Robin has a red breast.

For the majority of the book there are some great stories that I had never read before that capture the true essence of what Easter is supposed to be about without all the world's hype on Easter bunnies, marshmallow peeps, basket hunting and egg dying. These stories capture the meaning of the sacrifice that Jesus made when he came here as Savior to the world and how it changed how we treat one another. All the stories in this book are not 100% religious in their content but do tell fables that encourage us to change how we perceive and treat people today with kindness and hospitality. This book could be used for any purpose besides Easter and for those that are looking for a great book that captures some of those older stories from notable authors, you might just want to pick this one up.

I received Easter Stories: Classic Tales for the Holy Season compliments of Plough Publishing House and FlyBy Promotions for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. One of my favorite stories was from Leo Tolstoy, Two Old Men. It is about two older men who decide it might be the perfect time to take a trip to Jerusalem before they get too old to go. Along the way they become separated but what each learns truly is life changing for them both. There are 27 incredible stories to chose from in this book. For me this one rated a 4 out of 5 stars due to the fact that not all the stories I read would NOT be suitable for all ages in my opinion.

Great collection of stories about Easter. These are classical and short stories all put in one book. This book covers many different types of stories from childhood and many famous authors that we have all grown up with. I like that it had 27 different short stories that could be read at anytime of the day and in any order. This is a book that you can sit down pick up, spend sometime reading and then realize just what Easter is all about and how each story has a moral and meaning. You can also use it as a family tradition of sitting around in the evening and reading a story out loud and then talking about the meaning of what you just read. I like the flexibility and the memories that this book will create. I have not seen a book like this that covers Easter in such a classic way.

I would recommend this as a great read for the whole family. You can also use it for any Sunday School lesson or reading clubs. In today's world, the younger generation would call this book old and vintage... we call it "The Beginning".

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Handlebar/ Plough Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Many families I know have several favorite Christmas stories, and the routine of reading them every year adds delight to the season.

Nobody I asked, however, could have named a single Easter story except for the Gospel narratives.

This volume will happily change that.

Plough Publishing has carried on in the tradition of their previous work "Home for Christmas."

They've mined great literature from through the ages and across the globe, searching for stories that shout and whisper "He is Risen!"

The stories range widely in style and genre.

Some are what we call "Biblical Fiction," where humans use that holy imagination to give us a scene from the Gospel's themselves.

One of the most unique examples of this is "Stories from the Cotton Patch Gospel."

Clarence Jordan brings the Gospel into Georgia. He envisions how the Passion may have taken place in the Deep South, with followers Rock, Jack and the Magdala girl and Jesus bringing the "God Movement."

He shows us the betrayal, the agony in the garden, and the Sunday Rising in a new way.

{I'll be keeping an eye out for Mr. Jordan's entire book.}

St. Veronica's Kerchief is more traditional, but every bit as compelling.

I can't say anything about it without spoiling the pleasure of your own reading, but it gives a story to the Sixth Station of the Cross.

And then there's Elizabeth Goudge's "John." I can see re-reading this one every year.

In just a few pages, she manages to give life and breath and soul to John, Peter, and Mary Magdalene, following them to the Tomb.

Some are historical fiction, such as Tolstoy's tale of two old villagers who set out for Jerusalem.

On the way they find God through an unexpected detour, and they learn the true meaning of pilgrimage.

Claire Huchet Bishop provides another historical, about a gang of children living in Nazi occupied Paris.

The way these children provide an Easter gift for a sick friend makes a wonderful story.

And Alan Paton, author of "Cry, The Beloved Country" takes us to South Africa in the pain and turmoil of Apartheid.

His story, quiet and humble, shows us clearly why Jesus washed his disciples feet and said "Now do the same."

Other's are far more mythic, and all of them contain glimpses of Him and His Resurrection power.

He's in the King who "calls out with a lion's voice" and takes the lash upon his own back.

He is the Ragman in my second favorite story, who goes calling through the city, exchanging bandages for health and tear-stained handkerchiefs for gladness.

He's seen "through a glass darkly" in the fable of Danko, who tore out his burning heart to light the way through danger.

And the best part is, the selections transcend all denominational categories.

Tune your eyes and ears to the everlasting mercy of Christ, and prepare to hear these tales echoing in your heart for a while to come.

"For though every man's life must come to its end, God's spirit can never be quenched... thus Jesus wanders on, over steppes and through forests, into hearts and homes. He looks into the eyes of beggars; he blesses children. No spies can prevent him, no magistrates can arrest him, no prison can hold him fast. He can cross every frontier, and walk among us, too. Pray that he may, for we have long had need of him."

~ Karl Josef Friedrich, "The Case of Rachoff."

I am grateful to The Plough Publishing House for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.